Auxiliary support for cable hoist suspended apparatus



Dec. 15, 1959 F, so 2,917,195

AUXILIARY SUPPORT FOR CABLE HOIST SUSPENDED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25,195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARTHUR F HANSON,

his A llorney.

Dec. 15, 1959 HANSON 2,917,195

AUXILIARY SUPPORT FOR CABLE HOIST SUSPENDED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25,1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flErEL 11? m r A W Wm H his Attorney.

United States Patent AUXILIARY SUPPORT FOR CABLE HOIST susrnnunuAPPARATUS Arthur F. Hanson, Proctor, Minn, assignor to United .StatesSteel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 25,1957, Serial No. 636,280 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-658) This invention relatesto cable hoists for car shakers or other apparatus. More particularly itrelates to an auxiliary mechanism for supporting such apparatusindependently of the cables by which it is hoisted. The in- .ventionfurther contemplates certain specific improvements which requireelevation of the apparatus by its hoist cables before the auxiliarysupporting mechanism can be rendered inoperative.

Car shaking apparatus is commonly employed to facilitate unloading ofgranular material such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and the likefrom hopper-bottom gondola cars. Such apparatus usually comprises asteel housing having shoes at its ends for bearing engagement with theupper edges of the sides of a gondola car and an eccentric drive forimparting a vibratory motion thereto. It is normally suspended by cablesfrom a hoist for moving it to and from an operative shaking position ona car .to be emptied and the hoist is carried by a supporting framewhich may be stationary or part of a trolley carriage. Since thehoistcables are subject to breakage as the result of exposure to theweather and of wear and fraying in normal operation, a hazardouscondition is encountered by workmen who must pass beneath the apparatuswhen it is not in use. The elimination of such hazardous workingcondition .is one of the principal objects of this'invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary mechanismfor supporting car shaking or other apparatus when not in useindependently of the hoist cables from which it is normally suspended.Anotherand related object is directed to an improved mechanism formoving an auxiliary support to and from an operative supporting positionrelative to the apparatus to be supported thereby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description.

In the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.In this showing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a conventional carshaker and cable hoist therefor which is provided with an auxiliarysupport constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view looking from the right of Figure 1;

Eigure 3 is .an enlarged and detailed elevational view of a portion ofthe auxiliary support shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVfIV of Figure 3Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show a conventional trolley and cablehoist support for a car shaker 1 of the type used in unloadinghopper-bottom gondola cars as described generally above. Since thestructural details of the car shaker 1 are also conventional and do notform any part of this invention, they have not been shown and the carshaker has been illustrated fragmentarilyand schematically. It issupported by a pair of laterally spaced cables 2 which are wound on ahoist drum 3.

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The hoist-drum is suspended by a bracket support 4 from a trolley frame5 having trolley wheels 7 mounting it for movement along a trolley track9 in the form of an Lbeam the bottom flange of which provides a pair of5 trackways for the wheels 7. A pair of safety U-shaped loops 10 arebolted to the frame 5 and extend over the track 9 to support the framein the event that the wheels .7 become disengaged therefrom.

To eliminate hazard by reason of breakage of the 10 cables 2, anauxiliary support is provided for supporting the load of the shaker 1directly on the trolley carriage frame 5 and for thereby relieving thecables 2 of the load of the car shaker 1 during periods when it is notin use or is being transported by the carriage over :the

trolley track 9 from one location to another. Such auxiliary support isprovided by a pair of laterally spaced hook and banger assemblies 11which may be operated to support the load of the shaker '1 directly onthe trolley carriage frame 5. The assemblies 11 are arranged outwardlywith respect to eyebolts 12 to which the cables 2 are attached and arethus arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of gravity of theshaker .1. In a manner to'be described, the auxiliary supportingassemblies 11 of this invention are rendered operative by hoisting ofthe load 1 to a predetermined position with re- ,spect to the frame 5,Subsequently, afurther hoisting movement by the cables 2 is requiredbefore the assemblies'11 can be operated to release the load 1 forlowering movement.

Each of the assemblies 11 is comprised of a hanger assembly 13 securedto spaced channels 14 at the bottom of the trolley frame 5 and a hookassembly 15 secured to the upper edge of the load 1. The assemblies 15respectively provide supporting hooks which have an inverted L-shapefacing outwardly relative to each other. I

The hanger assemblies 13 are arranged transversely of the space betweenthe bottom channels 14 and are mounted for pivotal movement to and froman operative sup- 7 porting position under supporting arms on the hookassemblies 15 in a manner to be described.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, each of the hookassemblies 15 is comprised of a vertically extending plate 16 held bybolts 17 between a pair of spaced lugs 18 Welded to the top plate 19 ofthe car shaker 1. The plate 16, as indicated above, has an invertedL-shape providing a vertical leg 20 which'has its lower end secured tothe load 1 in the manner just described and which has a horizontalsupporting arm 21 projecting outwardly from the upper end thereof. The

bottom edge 22 of the arm 21 has a downwardly opening recess 23 and itsupper edge provides an outwardly and downwardly sloping camming surface24 for purposes to be described. A kick plate 25 is secured to the.

mounting lugs 18 in an angular'ly inclined position under the recess 23also for a purpose to be described.

Each of the hanger assemblies 13 is comprised of a pair of laterallyspaced links 26 and a horizontal hook engaging supporting member 27. Theupper ends of the links 26 are connected by pivot pins 28 and supportingangles to the bottom channels 14 of the trolley frame 5 for pivotalmovement with respect thereto. The horizontal supporting member 27 is inthe form of a roller having its opposite ends 29 extending throughaligned openings in the lower ends of the links 26. The upper ends 6 ofthe links 26 as viewed in Figure 3 have inner portions 30 which are flatand act as stops which engage with an angle bar 31 extending between thechannels 14 of the frame 5 to limit pivotal movement of the hangerassembly 13 in a counter-clockwise direction beyond the position shownin solid lines, and outer portions 32 which are curved to permit pivotalmovement in a clockwise direction to the position shown in broken lines.An angle bar 33 extending between lugs 34 attached to frame serves as astop for limiting pivotal movement of assembly 13 beyond the positionshown in broken lines in Figure 3. v

A spring biased linkage is provided for effecting pivotal movement ofthe hanger assemblies 13 to their operative supporting positions asshown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 3. This linkage comprises links 35and 36 which have their outer ends respectively connected with thehanger assemblies 13. The inner end of the link 36 is connected to oneend of a coil spring 37 which has its other end connected through aturnbuckle 38 to the inner end of the link 35. The coil spring 37 exertsa pulling force on the links 35 and .36 which biases the movement of theassemblies to their vertical and operative holding positions as shown insolid lines in the drawings. The biasing force exerted by the spring 37may be adjusted by operation of the turnbuckle 38.

Outward movement of the hanger assemblies 13 to the positions shown inbroken lines in Figures 1 and 3 is effected by a fluid-pressureexpansible-chamber motor 40 which is preferably air operated. The motor40 comprises a cylinder 41'having one end closed by a cap 42 which ispivotally connected by a lug 43 to one of the hanger assemblies 13. Apiston rod 44 projects from the other end of the cylinder 41 and has apivotal connection at its outer end to the other of the hangerassemblies 13. Upon admission of fluid pressure to the motor 40 to movethe piston rod 44 outwardly relative to the cylinder 41, the hangerassemblies 13 are pivoted outwardly to the position shown in brokenlines against the biasing action of the spring 37. Conventional valvemechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the admission andexhaust of fluid pressure for operating the motor 40.

In the operative supporting position of the assemblies 11 shown inFigure l, the hanger members or rollers 27 are received in the hookrecesses 23 (see Figure 3) and the load of the car shaker 1 is supporteddirectlyon the trolley frame 5 thereby relieving the cables 2 of suchload. In this position, accidental operation of the motor 40 isineffective to move the hanger assemblies outwardly since its maximumthrust is ineffective to elevate the load 1 to move the supportingrollers 27 out of the recesses 23. To release the auxiliary support, thehoist drum 3 must first be operated to elevate the load 1 and hookassemblies 11 a sufficient distance to free the rollers 27 for movementoutwardly from a position underneath the recesses 23. Thereafter,admission of fluid pressure to the motor 40 is effective to pivot thehanger assemblies 13 outwardly so that the load It may be lowered byoperation of the cables 2. Prior to admission of fluid pressure to themotor 43 for this purpose, outward movement of the hanger assemblies 13may be effected in part by engagement of the rollers 27 with the kickplates 25 which are designed to protect against damage by reason ofelevation of the load l to an extent greater than necessary to clear therollers 27 with respect to the hook recesses 23. To prevent excessiveelevation of this character, a limit switch (not shown) is provided forstopping the operation of the drive motor for the hoist drum 3. Afterlowering movement of the load 1 and exhaust of fluid pressure from themotor 40, the biasing spring 37 becomes effective to return the hangerassemblies 13 to the positions shown in solid lines. Such returnmovement, it will be recalled, is limited by engagement of the stops 3%with the frame angle 31.

To reengage the auxiliary support of this invention after the car shakerit has performed its intended operation, it is only necessary to elevatethe load 1 by operation of the hoist drum 3 and cables 2. As the hookassemblies 15 move upwardly, the camming surfaces 24 on their horizontalsupporting arms 21 engage the rollers 27 and pivot the hanger assemblies13 outwardly against the action of the biasing spring 37. As such upwardmovement is continued, the hook arms 21 move to a position in which thebiasing action of the spring 37 becomes effective to return the hangerassemblies 13 to the positions shown in solid lines with the rollers 27arranged under the hook recesses 23. A subsequent lowering movement ofthe load 1 through a small vertical distance, which may be effected forexample merely by opening the control circuits (not shown) of the drivemotor for the hoist drum 3, is only necessary to engage the rollers 27in the hook recesses 23 and to thereby render the assemblies 11 fullyeffective for supporting the load 1 directly on the trolley frame 5. Inthis manner, the cables 2 are relieved of the load of the car shaker andhazard incident to the breakage of the cables 2 when the car shakerapparatus is not in use or is being transported over the trolleytrackway 9 is completely eliminated.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In hoisting apparatus including a load suspended by a hoisting drumand a pair of laterally spaced cables from a supporting frame, thecombination with said frame of an auxiliary load supporting mechanismcomprising a pair of inverted L-shaped load supporting hooks arrangedrespectively in positions adjacent one of said cables, each of saidhooks comprising a vertical member secured at its lower end to said loadand a horizontal supporting member projecting outwardly from the upperend of said vertical member, the horizontal members of said hooksextending in opposite directions relative to each other and respectivelyhaving a downwardly facing recess on the lower edge thereof, and a pairof assemblies for supporting said load by said hooks on said frameindependently of said drum and cables, each of said assembliescomprising a pair of links having pivotal connections at their upperends With said frame and a horizontal supporting arm extending betweenand connected with their lower ends, pivotal movement of said linksbeing effective to swing said supporting arms 'to and from operativesupporting positions under said downwardly facing hook recesses, and acommon actuating means for simultaneously pivoting said assembliescomprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber motor having pivotalconnections at its ends with each of said assemblies. 7

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by said actuatingmeans further comprising a spring biased linkage means including a pairof links respectively having connections at their outer ends with one ofsaid assemblies and a coil spring connecting their inner ends.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by a pair of stopson said frame for engaging and limiting pivotal movement of saidassemblies in a direction away from their said operative supportingpositions.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by a pair ofinclined kick plates secured to said load respectively at the base ofone of said hook vertical members for engaging said horizontal arms topivot said assemblies in a direction away from their respectiveoperative supporting positions upon upward movement of said loadrelative to said frame.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by said fluidpressure motor being effective upon operation to pivot said assembliesand swing said supporting arms outwardly from their operative supportingpositions under said hook recesses, and by said actuating means furtherincluding a spring biased linkage means biasing the pivotal movement ofsaid assemblies and their supporting arms inwardly to their saidoperative positions, and camming members on each of said horizontal hookmembers for engaging and pivoting said supporting arms outwardly againstthe biasing action of said 5 linkage in response to upward movement ofsaid load and said hooks.

6. In hoisting apparatus including a load suspended by a hoisting drumand a pair of cables from a supporting frame, an auxiliary mechanism forsupporting said load on said frame independently of said drum and cablescomprising a pair of hooks secured at laterally spaced points to saidload, a pair of supporting members respectively having pivotalconnections with said frame for movement to and from an operativesupporting position under said hooks, a fluid pressure expansiblechamber motor having pivotal connections at its ends with said membersfor imparting simultaneous pivotal movement thereto respectively inopposite rotational directions, said motor being efiective to pivot saidmembers respectively in a single rotational direction, and a springbiased linkage means for pivoting said arms in opposite rotationaldirections, said linkage means comprising a pair of links respectivelyconnected at their outer ends with difierent ones of said members and acoil spring having connections at opposite ends thereof with the innerends of said links.

7. An auxiliary load supporting mechanism as defined in claim 6characterized by one of said coil spring connections including aturnbuckle for adjusting the biasing tension of said spring.

8. In hoisting apparatus including a load suspended by a hoisting drumand a pair of laterally spaced cables from a supporting frame, thecombination with said frame of an auxiliary load supporting mechanismcomprising a pair of inverted L-shaped load supporting hooks arrangedrespectively in positions adjacent one of said cables, each of saidhooks comprising a vertical member secured at its lower end to said loadand a hori zontal supporting member projecting outwardly from the upperend of said vertical member, the horizontal members of said hooksextending in opposite directions relative to each other and respectivelyhaving a downwardly facing recess on the lower edge thereof, and a pairof assemblies for supporting said load by said hooks on said frameindependently of saiddrum and cables, each of said assemblies comprisinga pair of links having pivotal connections at their upper ends with saidframe and a horizontal supporting arm extending between and connectedwith their lower ends, pivotal movement'of said links being effective toswing said supporting arms to and from operative supporting positionsunder said downwardly facing hook recesses, and a common actuating meansfor simultaneously pivoting said assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,278,891 Ennis Sept. 17, 1918 1,332,192 Anderson Mar. 2, 1920 1,346,160Barlow July 13, 1920 1,461,454 Reilly July 10, 1923 2,626,720 Woody Jan.27, 1953 2,725,154 Hendricks Nov. 29, 1955

